Representatives from across the country, and those representing foreign countries such as Algeria, will attend an all-day conference on interfaith relations at Merrimack College on October 28, 2009.
The Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations at Merrimack College is hosting “Christian-Muslim Understanding, Reverence and Shared Works of Justice and Peace: The Algerian-Augustinian Experience And Beyond.”
For a full schedule, click here.
The day-long event will begin with a call to prayer and will host speakers including:
- Prof. Asma Afsaruddin, Professor of Islamic Studies, Department of Near Eastern Cultures and Languages, Indiana University, Bloomington
- Mr. John Kiser, author of “Monks of Tibhirine and Commander of the Faithful”
- Very Rev. Robert Prevost, O.S.A., Prior General, The Order of Saint Augustine
- His Excellency Abdallah Baali, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to the United States
Workshops will also take place, and facilitators include:
- Chaplain Najiba Akbar, Wellesley College
- Prof. Mark Allman, Merrimack College
- Dr. Mohamed Lazzouni, Visiting Scholar, Boston College
- The Rev. Dr. Diane Kessler, Mass Council of Churches (ret)
- Mr. Joseph Montville, George Mason University
- Prof. Padraic O’Hare, Merrimack College
- Chaplain Mary Lahaj, Simmons College
- Prof. Richard Hennessey, Merrimack College
According to Padraic O’Hare, director of the Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations at Merrimack College, Augustine is a national hero in the Muslim country, Algeria, and the Augustinian Friars maintain a basilica church in Annaba, where Augustinian friars and nuns work collaboratively with Muslim sisters and brothers.
“The conference is a celebration of Christian-Muslim relations, reverence, understanding and collaboration in works of justice and of peace, in Algeria and beyond,” said O’Hare. “We intend that the conference audience will walk away renewed in their commitments to building lines of religious and cultural diversity with bridges of reverence, understanding and love.”
For more information, contact the Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations at (978) 837-5428 or email jcm@merrimack.edu.
Made possible by a generous grant from the William & Mary Greve Foundation.
Contacts:
Merrimack College
Heather Notaro, 978-837-5195
Public Relations
heather.notaro@merrimack.edu
